Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disease to strike young adults and is most often diagnosed in people between 20 and 40 years. Women are almost twice as likely as men to develop MS.
MS progresses throughout life, but treatments and specialist care can help people to manage symptoms well and delay progression. Although its cause is not known and a cure has yet to be identified, research continues.
What is MS?
Messages are sent from the brain and spinal cord to all parts of the body through nerve fibres. The nervous system works because nerve fibres (axons) convey information between nerve cells (neurons) by way of electrical impulses. Surrounding and protecting the nerve fibres, is an important substance called myelin which helps messages travel quickly and smoothly from the brain to the rest of the body. (Nerves are similar to electric cables and the myelin is the plastic insulation around these cables. If the insulation gets damaged there may be a short circuit).
MS is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system, which normally helps to fight off infections, mistakes its own tissue for a foreign body, such as a bacterium, and attacks it. In MS the myelin sheath is the major target of attack. The immune system attacks the myelin surrounding the nerve fibres destroying it (demyelination). This damage to myelin disrupts messages travelling along nerve fibres. The messages can slow down, become distorted, pass from one nerve fibre to another (short circuiting), or not get through at all. Due to ‘short circuiting’ the axons become less efficient at conveying information.
As the nervous system links all bodily activities, many different symptoms can appear in MS, depending on which part of the nervous system is affected.
What are the
symptoms of MS?
MS varies from person to person and can result in a wide variety of symptoms,. People can have different symptoms at different times; there is no typical pattern.
Common symptoms are:
- An overwhelming sense of tiredness.
- Balance problems: walking difficulties, problems with co-ordination.
- Visual problems: blurred or double vision, temporary loss of sight in one eye or both.
- Numbness or tingling: commonly in the hands or feet.
- Pain: sometimes mild, sometimes severe.
- Loss of muscle strength and dexterity.
- Stiffness and spasms: tightening or rigidity in particular muscle groups.
- Anxiety, depression or mood swings.
- Difficulty with memory and concentration.
- Speech problems: slurring, slowing of speech, or changes in pitch or tone.
- Lack of control over bladder or bowel functions.
- Sexual problems: lack of libido, erectile difficulties.
Symptoms, such as walking difficulties are obvious. Others, such as pain or fatigue, are often referred to as hidden, invisible or silent symptoms. MS can be difficult to diagnose since its signs and symptoms may be similar to many other medical problems.
Is there any treatment?
Although there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, several therapies have proven helpful. The primary aims of therapy are returning function after an attack, preventing new attacks, and preventing disability.
The Multiple Sclerosis
Association of
Lanka (MSAL)
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of Lanka (MSAL) affiliated to the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation aims to bring together persons with MS, their doctors, caregivers and others to improve the lives of persons with MS.
The main aim is to provide support to persons living with MS by helping patients and caregivers through home visits, organizing talks by experts and providing financial assistance, where necessary, for wheelchairs, physiotherapy, purchase of drugs etc. MS meetings are held in Colombo and Kandy.
The MSAL would welcome donations which could be made to The Multiple Sclerosis Association of Lanka, Commercial Bank A/c Number 1100037477.
MSAL can be contacted at msalinfo@sltnet.lk or MS Association, 144, Vipulasena Mawatha, Colombo 10 or at the following number 0777319333.
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